Pope Jude fans had a nice day Saturday, kicking it all off with the Columbia Stakes trifecta of Gidu – Captivating Moon – Smart Remark at Tampa Bay Downs for $68.80. That was followed up by the Hillsborough (G2) exacta at $62.80, trifecta at $164.70 and even the dime super which returned $58.75 for the Fourstar Crook – Proctor’s Ledge – La Coronel – Daddys Lil Darling combos.

The prices were short at Aqueduct but Harlan Punch, Divine Miss Grey, and Enticed all got the job done.

Local horse, Bowies Hero, upset heavily favored champion World Approval at Santa Anita returning a whopping $18.60. There was no way he should have been 8-1.

One of our favorite plays of the day, Treasuring, ran second after a so-so trip, but the exacta with heavily favored Ms Bad Behavior came back $41.80.

“Horse to Watch” lister, Cosmic Burst, put in a powerful run to take the Honeybee (G3) at Oaklawn to put a big bow on the day at $10.80!

(6:09) GP 14th Race - The Fountain of Youth (G2) seems to boil down to the comebacking Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) winner, #6 GOOD MAGIC, #2 FREE DROP BILLY, who has had the benefit of a recent race and the talented sprinter, #4 STRIKE POWER. 'MAGIC ran huge Brisnet speed figures as a two-year-old and makes his sophomore debut here. The son of Curlin has been training notably for Chad Brown and seeks to prove he's still the leader of the division. 'BILLY ran well in the Holy Bull (G2) after his winter break. That race was very fast late - a good sign - and the Dale Romans trainee should be fitter, wiser and a much better price than the chalk. 'STRIKE has been impressive in his first two starts, but will need to call upon all the distance features of his pedigree to get this distance against top company.

The Pontiff will be in Barbados this week for the Sandy Lane Barbados Gold Cup. He will post his analysis of the Fountain of Youth (G2) and possibly any other races in this space. Check back Friday or Saturday morning.

The Pontiff is heading to England and France this week for a short working vacation. There won't be any Pope Jude report for Saturday, February 17 or Monday, February 19. There will be a report for Saturday, February 24. Thanks for your loyal support!

Pope Jude fans have been cashing tickets with regularity that couple of weekends. Horses like Texting at $16.80, Thewayiam at $11.40 and Slick Trick at $9.40 go a long way to keep you in the game. The exacta prices have been surprising too. Gun Runner and West Coast combined for a $17.20 payoff. Insane! But even better, Thewayiam and Salsa Bella came back $59.40 for two with Speed Franco and Gidu hitting for $40.00.

Winners Alternative Route, Fascilitator, Tower of Texas, Instilled Regard, Cedartown, Ultra Brat, Shining Copper and Mopotism were all on the report. Thanks to the Pope Jude fans who sent messages about their scores and successful wagers. It's always fun to hear about them.

It's an eclectic group of races this week, so we put a special $5.00 price tag on it.

Next week, we'll have a big report out for the Pegasus World Cup card! We'll be heading down to Gulfstream Wednesday.

With good weather predicted at Saturday's tracks featuring solid stakes action, we decided to kick off the 2018 report season. Owners, trainers and jockeys with talented three-year-olds have begun the quest for Derby points and many older horses are beginning their winter campaigns. Racing gets better and better from here on in and we are looking forward to a huge day of sport for the Pegasus World Cup in a couple of weeks. As Dick Riley would sign off his radio show, "Here's hoping the next ticket you buy is a winning one."

Saturday, September 30 was a very good day for Pope Jude fans,but it was the Awesome Again (G1) at Santa that drew the most comments. This is what we wrote:

(8:00) SA 10th Race – Due to tremendous management by Bob Baffert, most people think #8 CUPID is a fantastic racehorse. He is not. The son of Tapit has won some of the weakest races imaginable. He is all smoke and mirrors. Baffert’s other charge in the Awesome Again (G1) is #6 MUBTAAHIJ. A son of the great sire Dubawi, he has been managed like he’s a cheap claimer, running all over the place, often overmatched and sometimes out of form, at different surfaces and distances and still, he has managed to earn over $4 million in his 17-race career. #8 CUPID couldn’t fasten his bridle. Maybe #6 MUBTAAHIJ has been ruined. But if he hasn’t, we expect a huge performance this evening. We didn’t care much for the chances of #2 DORTMUND in this spot and evidently trainer Art Sherman didn’t either. He’ll be scratched in favor of an easier race down the road.

With lots of chalk and some pretty dubious races on tap, there wasn't enough to sink your teeth into to put out a report. Here are the races we are looking at on Saturday. It only takes one to make your day:

(2:32) BEL 3rd Race – Figure-wise, #5 OFF LIMITS stands out in the Noble Damsel (G3). She is also the best finisher in a field full of early speed types. A decent ride from Joel Rosario is all she needs to get the chrome.

(5:45) BEL 9th Race – Coming off a big win in the Monmouth Cup (G3) #5 SHARP AZTECA has a distinct pace and speed advantage in the Kelso Handicap (G2). His trainer, Jorge Navarro, is currently racing under a black cloud, with suspensions levied against him on almost a daily basis. At this writing, it is sketchy as to whether the son of Freud will be allowed to participate.

(4:14) PRX 9th Race – #1 PETROV and #1A COAL FRONT are a potent entry in the Gallant Bob (G3). The former should get a great trip right behind the latter and their pace and speed figures are among the best in the field. #4 RUNNING MATE has always been highly regarded by his connections. He’s run well in his first two starts after a spring respite and a sharp breeze on Monday at Delaware Park suggests he can move forward again. #5 AMERICAN PASTIME looked sharp winning his last start at Del Mar. California speed is always dangerous when shipped east.

(5:45) PRX 11th Race – Opening at 8/5 on the morning line #4 WEST COAST runs back quickly after his overwhelming Travers (G1) victory and a pair of cross-country trips. There is no doubt that Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert thinks the son of Flatter is up to the task, but the question is how short of a price do you want to take in the Pennsylvania Derby (G1)? We like the way trainer Doug O’Neill kept #5 IRAP on the East Coast and prepped him over the Parx surface. The son of Tiznow has developed into one of America’s best sophomores and he certainly has a big shot at the top prize. #8IRISH WAR CRY is capable of tremendous races on occasion. He’ll have to assume a stalker’s role to have success in this speed-laden field and quite possibly jockey Feargal Lynch was hired to that end. #7 GAME OVER is improving with racing and could sneak in a trifecta spot to bolster the payoffs. He’s had more trainers than Zsa Zsa Gabor had husbands and now is in the care of the infamous Jorge Navarro.

(9:15) CT 10th Race – There is nobody to go with #8 UNRIDEABLE in the Frank Gall Memorial Stakes. The son of Bullsbay served notice that seven furlongs was well within his scope when he won the R.G. Leavitt Stakes in his last start. A good break is all he needs.

(10:11) CD 9th Race – #1 PINCH HIT had a ton of trouble in the Groupie Doll (G3) and gets reunited with jockey Jon Court in the Dogwood Stakes. If the Brad Cox trainee can overcome her rail draw she could surprise a few people. #13 COVENANT ran second to Salty in her debut, was given a vacation and then returned to break her maiden by nearly seven lengths in the slop. The daughter of Speightstown has a high ceiling and should get a great trip from her outside draw.

Due to weather uncertainties, there will be no Pope Jude reports this weekend. We will post a few selected horses in this space for our fans who like to wager every weekend. Gulfstream Park is closed until at least next week and we'll see if any other East Coast tracks are affected by IRMA. Check back Saturday morning.

The Travers Day report had mixed results, but judging by the emails and tweets some Pope Jude fans did quite well. Several followers stayed off Mind Your Biscuits which put them in a better position to win. Inside information in racing is a good thing.

Our 1-2-3 picks will appear in the Saratoga Special on Sunday. If you want to check them out go to thisishorseracing.com and click on the Saratoga Special link.

Saturday, July 22 was a big day for Pope Jude fans with Sporting Chance, Partly Mocha and Glorious Empire winning at Saratoga and Sorry Erik, Girl Downstairs and Ample Sufficiency winning at Del Mar. Many players boxed the exacta in the Del Mar nightcap and hit big when Ding Dong Ditch ran second to Ample Sufficiency. That 12-6 combination returned $471.80 for two bucks!

With seven winners on the report and the Belmont (G1) exacta, Pope Jude fans had a very nice end to the Triple Crown season. "Wiseguy" horse, Tapwrit, ran to his training and Graham Motion was able to get Irish War Cry to stay the mile and a half.

Thanks to everyone who emailed and tweeted about their scores. It is always fun to go home from the track with a smile on your face.

Looking forward to the Stephen Foster (G1) card at Churchill Downs Saturday night and the other stakes at Gulfstream, Monmouth and Santa Anita during the afternoon.

After a tremendous Preakness (G1) day for Pope Jude fans, this weekend's slate and the prospect of inclement weather at most of the tracks we follow, it seemed prudent to let the wagering alone. Hopefully, next weekend we'll have something to sink our teeth into.

We were asked by the folks at Bulleit Bourbon to do a report for their private party Thursday night at Churchill Downs. In eight races, we had five winners on the card:

BULLEIT BOURBON DAY AT CHURCHILL DOWNS – THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2017

(5:00) CD 1st Race – #4 LITTLE BIT IRISH ran well in his last start at Keeneland 18 days ago. He’s only run one clunker in his last five starts and seems solid in this event under leading rider Corey Lanerie.

(5:29) CD 2nd Race – #2 THERIGHTTOBEARARMS ran fourth in her debut to the promising filly Nootka Sound, who is probably headed to Royal Ascot. She broke slowly that afternoon and should be sharper with experience. The drop from maiden special weight races to maiden claiming is huge and her trainer, William Helmbrecht, has a better record second time out.

(5:58) CD 3rd Race –#7 CHEYENNE BLUES owns an excellent closing kick and there seems like enough early speed types are entered to make her late run effective. Trainer J.R. Caldwell wins first time out with 14% of his claims.

(6:27) CD 4th Race –#5 PRINCESS EMBER has been facing easier company at Mahoning Valley and will need some improvement to hit the winners’ circle. She has tactical speed and gets a top jockey for this run, so it is not out of the question.

(7:54) CD 7th Race – #7 WAGON BOSS ran against an unbelievably good field in an allowance race at Keeneland last time out. He actually had a shot to win, which doesn’t reflect in his running line, so this easier bunch offers him a big shot at a monster price. Trainer Ignacio Correas, IV often succeeds in having his charges outrun their odds and this could be another one.

The last Kentucky Derby (G1) prep, the Arkansas Derby (G1) and the Stonestreet Lexington (G3) head up Saturday's racing with the Plenty of Grace Stakes from Aqueduct and the Los Angeles Handicap (G3) at Santa Anita in Saturday's report. Undercard races from Keeneland and Oaklawn Park are covered too. Lots of great action! #GetHot #StayHot